THE Horsham community is encouraged to get ready for a spectacular celebration.
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A New Year’s Eve family fun night is planned to help the community ring in 2019 by the banks of the Wimmera River at Maydale Reserve.
Horsham Rural City Council’s development services director Angela Murphy said the council had received a number of requests to hold a celebration for New Year’s Eve.
“Council saw it as an important activity to undertake in terms of bringing the community together socially,” she said.
“We want to see it as a family and community event because we haven’t had one in some time. It will be a way for the community to gather together and celebrate the new year.”
The council passed a motion at its October meeting to allocate grant funding to the Horsham Agricultural Society to host the event.
“We found the agriculture society were prepared to run this on the council’s behalf. We really see this year as a trial year, then we will do a bit of a review and see what can be done in the long term,” Ms Murphy said.
Horsham Agricultural Society secretary Andrea Cross said plans were already in motion to make the event extra special.
“There will be several special features of the New Year’s Eve event,” she said.
“One of the things we’re most excited for is the light shows on the river gums. We’re being environmentally responsible by not having fireworks.
“This enables us to plan a lot easier in case there is a Total Firer Ban day. We believe we’ll be able to do some pretty fantastic stuff with lights.”
Mrs Cross said she was thrilled the society had the chance to plan the event.
“This is the first time the agriculture society has taken on organising a New Year’s Eve event,” she said.
“Usually there are no community events planned in Horsham for the night. The community is already getting around this idea.”
Light shows will be held at 10pm and midnight. Live music will performed from 6pm, featuring a jazz band and a solo artist, while novelty water activities for children will be held on the grass.
Food trucks will be parked by the river, German beer will be for sale at the Maydale beer garden and the Silo Bar will be operating.
The event is free and will be fully licensed, so no BYO alcohol. There will be a certain number of tables and chairs available, however people are encouraged to bring along their own picnic rug and campchairs.
To learn more about the event, head to the Horsham Agriculture Society’s Facebook page.